The system described below will work fine if transport of the maps around
campus is needed. It would less expensive to buy roll Mylar and
double-sided tape and make your own encapsulations, rather than depending
on preexisting large envelopes, however Unless you are
willing to subject the maps to the wear and tear of moving
them in and out of ready-made mylar folders, using a new
such folder for each fragile map can quickly get very
expensive. Custom-made encapsulations will cost less, will
always be the right size, and by making one side wider, you provide extra
mylar in which to punch holes so the maps can be placed into the rings in
the portfolio. Actually, a large portfolio without rings will offer
nearly as much protection to properly encapsulated maps.
If Ms. Fink just wants to deliver maps to reading room patrons, and they
are not going to leave the building, then encapsulation is all that is
needed. All our rare and heavily used maps are permanently encapsulated,
and they stand up very well. They take up a little more space in map
cabinets that way, but they will last decades longer. Perhaps the
biggest advantage of permanent encapsulation is that encapsulated maps
never get crumpled when OTHER maps are being moved in and out of the map
cabinets. The process is easy-- any student assistant or technician can
quickly learn it. --Chris Mullin
Christopher G. Mullin mullin@selway.umt.edu | I buy good
Special Collections Librarian 406-243-4036 (voice mail) | regular-8mm
University of Montana 406-243-2060 (fax) | movie stuff
Missoula, MT 59812 Who else has *these* opinions--not UM!
On Tue, 27 Nov 2001, Patricia L. Chalmers wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> I have seen a very large portfolio with fairly stiff sides, and a
> rigid spine with rings (like an oversized ring binder). Large mylar
> envelopes are available, with a strengthened end which has been punched
> with holes to fit these rings. The portfolio has a handle so that it can
> be carried around.
> A bookbinder friend uses this system to store large sheets of
> Japanese paper (24" x 36", and larger). Would this arrangment suit your
> needs? He purchased these items in England; I don't know of a North
> American supplier.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Patricia L. Chalmers
> At 12:46 PM 11/27/2001 -0800, you wrote:
> >Greetings,
> >I'm looking for advice on how to store and deliver oversized maps,
> >hopefully, in something clear so patrons don't even have to remove them
> >from their envelope.
> >
> >I've seen the "See Thru" mylar envelopes available from companies like
> >University Products. However, they do not appear to have any type of
> >handle which would/should make it easier for us to get these maps about
> >safely. The clear envelopes used to display art prints are made of
> >acetate - so I'm told. Any ideas?
> >Thanks,
> >Carol Fink
> >Asst. Rare Book Librarian
> >Library of Michigan
> >Lansing
>
> *******************************************************************
> Patricia L. Chalmers Phone: (902) 422-1271x174
> Assistant Librarian Fax: (902) 423-3357
> University of King's College email:Patricia.Chalmers@ukings.ns.ca
> Halifax, NS B3H 2A1
> CANADA Visit our website at http://www.ukings.ns.ca
> *******************************************************************
>
>